Saudi-bound PIA aircraft makes emergency landing in Lahore

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight on its way to Saudi Arabia from Sialkot, had to make an emergency landing on Wednesday morning after the plane’s smoke detection system issued a warning.

According to the details of the incident provided, PIA flight PK-755 had departed Sialkot for Riyadh at 6 am, with the entire plane booked with passengers. However, shortly after taking off, the plane’s computer system issued a smoke detection warning. According to the system, smoke had been detected in the cargo compartment of the Airbus A-320 jet.

The pilot of the plane made a call to land the plane at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and the plane safely landed there. All the passengers onboard were safely evacuated after the landing and there were no injuries reported.

PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar rejected reports that the plane had made an emergency landing or that it had caught fire mid-air. Tajwar while talking to local reporters said the pilot had decided to make a “technical landing” after receiving a smoke warning signal soon after take-off.

“Keeping in mind the safety precautions, the pilot landed the aircraft in Lahore,” he said, adding that the plane had landed normally.

Currently the aircraft is undergoing a full check-up and it is expected to leave for Riyadh at 11:30 am, after getting clearance from the engineering department.

While the aircraft was being checked, the passengers were made to wait at the airport.

Meanwhile it has been learnt that PIA is expected to undergo a complete overhaul and the image of the airline will also be changed to improve its sales.